Adjusting mechanism for window sashes



y 1944- A. B. BROWN 2,353,217

ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR WINDOW SASHES Filed March 22, 1943 H INVEN TOR.Aer/we Bean/1v,

Patented July 11, 1944 ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR WINDOW SASHES Arthur B;Brown, Inglewood, Calif.

Application March 22, 1943, Serial No. 479,971

2 Claims.

My invention relates to screen doors of that type wherein the upper halfof the door has a wire screen therein with two window sashes rotatablein the door frame to partially open or completely close the screenportion in accordance with the ventilation desired.

Itis the purpose of my invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, andeasily operated adjusting mechanism for the window sashes, whereby theymay be individually slid to any desired position in the door frame, andsecurely retained in such position until a further adjustment isdesired.

My invention is structurally characterized by cords or chains, pulleys,reels, and clutches which normally secure the reels against rotation tomaintain any adjustment of the window sashes, but which are manuallyoperable to release the reels so that they can be rotated to actuate thecords in efiecting raising or lowering of the sashes to any desiredadjusted position individually. Following attainment of the desiredadjustment, release of the reels causes the clutches to automaticallysecure the reels against rotation so that the window sashes are retainedin the adjusted position.

I will describe only one form of door, and one form of window sashadjusting mechanism embodying my invention, and will then point out thenovel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view showing in side elevation a door havingwindow sashes therein, and one form of sash adjusting mechanismembodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 taken on a line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on a line 5-5 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the reelhandle shown in Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing, my invention is embodied in adoor of a screen type and which door comprises a rectangular frame,preferably of wood, which is divided by a transverse member I5 into aclosed lower half section l6, and an upper open half section I! which isspanned by a wire screen E. Within the upper half section l! is a windowframe W preferably made of wood and including two side members [8 andtwo end members IS, with guide strips 20 secured to the confrontingsides of the side mem- 55 bers, and in which two window sashes S and Sare mounted.

The guide strips 26 are formed with grooves 2| in which the verticaledge of the sashes S and S are slidably received to permit adjustment ofthe latter, and these sashes have glass panes 22 therein. The lower endmember l9 may be formed with a slot 23 in which the lower edge of thelower sash S may be received when the latter is in closed position. Theupper end member I5 is formed with a groove 23a in which the upper edgeof the upper sash is adapted to be received when the latter is in itsuppermost or closed position.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the window frame W and the door frame F may beformed with flanges 24 and 24a which are adapted to be secured to eachother to retain the window frame within the door frame.

For adjusting the sashes S and S to partly open or completely close thedoor section ll, I provide an adjusting mechanism, which, in the presentinstance, comprises a pair of cords or chains 25 and 25a one end ofwhich is secured at a central point to the upper end of the respectivesashes S and S :5 extend downwardly along the outer edges of the sidemembers I8, to reels R and R about which latter the cords are coiled,with their ends suitably secured to the peripheries of the reels.

Each reel R or R comprises a round body 28, preferably formed of wood,and having an enlarged outer portion 28a providing a handle which ispreferably knurled to facilitate turning of the reel. The body 28 isformed with a recess 29 leading to an opening 30 which extends throughthe inner end of the reel body. A bolt 3| is received in the recess soas to extend through the opening and beyond the inner end of the reelbody for extension through a web 32. This web 32 is provided in the sidemember [8 by forming the latter with a pocket 33 in which the reel isrotatably received. The bolt 3| is secured in the web 32 by a nut 34,while mounted on a bolt shank at the inner side of the bolt head is acoil spring 35.

For each reel a clutch K is provided which normally acts to secure thereel against rotation on the bolt and to thereby prevent winding orunwinding of the respective cord 25 or 25a. In the present instance,this clutch comprises a metal plate 36 secured to the inner end of thereel body 28 by screws 31, and a second metal plate 33 mounted on thebolt shank and secured against rotation thereon by being threaded on thebolt shank. The clutch plates 36 and 38 are formed on their confrontingfaces with radial grooves 36a and radial tongues 38a so that when thetongues are within the grooves the reel body cannot be rotated in eitherdirection.

The spring 35 serves to urge the reel body 28 inwardly on the bolt shankso that the clutch plate 36 is pressed against the clutch plate 38, andmanifestly the spring serves to releasably retain the tongues 33a withinthe grooves 36a, and thus the reel is releasably secured againstrotation.

From the preceding description it will be clear that one window sash orthe other may be adjusted vertically within the window frame by firstpulling outwardly on the respective reel body 28 until the clutch plate36 is disengaged from the clutch plate 38 to the extent of removing thetongues 38a from the grooves 36a, when the reel can be rotated in eitherdirection to lower or elevate the respective sash through the respectivecord 25 or 25a. Once the desired adjustment has been effected, the reelis released whereupon the pring 35 acts to cause engagement of theclutch plates so that the tongues 38a again function to secure the reelbody against rotation. Thus the desired adjustment of the window sash ismaintained.

The reels R and R in projecting from the surface of the door and windowframe prevent the intimate stacking of a plurality of such doors forshipment or storage. To permit of such intimate stacking that portion ofthe reel body which projects from the surface of the window frame may bemade separately and attached to the reel body when the window frame isput into use. This construction is illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein theattachable portion of the reel body or handle is designated at H andsuch handle is secured to the reel body by screws 39 applied asillustrated.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of screen door,and one form of window sash adjusting mechanism, it is to be understoodthat various changes and modifications may be made herein withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention and the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a window frame, a sash slideable in said frame, amechanism for adjusting said sash vertically in said frame, comprising acord connected at one end to said sash, pulleys for movably supportingsaid cord across the upper edge of said frame and down one edge of thelatter, and a reel rotatably mounted on said frame, said cord at itsother end being secured to and coiled about said reel, a bolt forrotatably supporting said reel on said frame, a clutch plate threaded onsaid bolt and engaging the frame to prevent rotation thereof, a secondclutch plate secured to said reel, and a spring mounted on said bolt forurging said reel toward the first clutch plate so as to cause a secondclutch plate to engage the former and secure the reel against rotation.

2. In combination; a window frame; a sash slidable in said frame; and amechanism for adjusting said sash in said frame, comprising a cordconnected at one end to said sash and movably supported about the'frame; a member fixed in said frame, a reel having an axial openingtherethrough for loosely receiving said member so that the reel isrotatable on the member and movable axially thereof, said reel and saidmember terminating flush with one side of said frame and said reelhaving the other end of said cord being coiled about and securedthereto, a clutch plate fixed on said member against rotation and axialmovement, a second clutch plate secured to said reel, and a springmounted on said member within said opening, for urging said reel towardthe first mentioned clutch plate so as to cause the second clutch plateto engage the latter and secure the reel against rotation; and a handlesecured to said reel and projecting from the reelside of said frame.

ARTHUR B. BROWN.

